Around the NFL

July 02, 2025

Palmer unlikely big factor for Bills

I saw a story recently suggesting people are sleeping on new Buffalo wideout Josh Palmer. The Bills signed him to a contract averaging $12 million per season, so I guess it’s possible. But I really doubt it.

Palmer has his merits. He’ll be working with one of the game’s best quarterbacks in Josh Allen, and he’s going to a team that’s not really overloaded with difference-making wide receivers. There’s Khalil Shakir, who’s been pretty reliable, but then a bunch of modest or unproven guys — Curtis Samuel, Elijah Moore, Keon Coleman. So maybe.

The problem is that Palmer is a lot like those modest veterans. The Bills seem to have collected a type of wide receiver, and it’s not a type that wins fantasy leagues.

Over the past two seasons, 58 wide receivers have started at least 25 games. The Bills currently roster three of the 15 lowest-scoring ones — 8.6 or fewer points per game in PPR leagues. (Shakir isn’t setting the world on fire; he’s also in the bottom half of that group.)

WRS PER GAME, 2023-2024 (25-PLUS STARTS)
PlayerStNoYdsTDPPR
CeeDee Lamb, Dall.327.492.0.6521.0Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det.337.184.2.6719.6Justin Jefferson, Min.276.396.6.5619.3Tyreek Hill, Mia.336.183.6.5818.1Puka Nacua, LAR286.688.4.3618.0Nico Collins, Hou.275.585.3.5717.4Mike Evans, T.B.314.972.9.7717.1A.J. Brown, Phil.305.884.5.4717.0Keenan Allen, Chi.286.471.0.5016.5Davante Adams, 2tms316.171.2.5316.3Stefon Diggs, Hou.256.267.2.4915.9DJ Moore, Chi.345.768.5.4515.5DeVonta Smith, Phil.295.165.5.5214.8Terry McLaurin, Was.344.761.7.5314.1Jakobi Meyers, L.V.315.159.2.4613.9Garrett Wilson, NYJ345.863.1.3013.9Drake London, Atl.335.165.9.3413.8Adam Thielen, Car.275.660.3.3513.7Deebo Samuel, S.F.293.853.1.5513.6DK Metcalf, Sea.314.367.9.4213.6Jordan Addison, Min.324.255.8.6313.6Courtland Sutton, Den.334.256.2.5513.1Michael Pittman, Ind.325.661.3.2413.1Calvin Ridley, Ten.344.159.8.3912.7Jayden Reed, G.B.333.650.0.5312.6Zay Flowers, Balt.334.658.1.3112.6Tank Dell, Hou.253.955.0.4012.2Amari Cooper, 2tms294.062.0.3212.1George Pickens, Pitt.313.965.8.2612.1Jaylen Waddle, Mia.294.560.6.2312.0Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea.344.851.7.2911.8Jerry Jeudy, Cle.334.460.2.2011.6DeAndre Hopkins, 2tms334.050.5.3611.3Josh Downs, Ind.314.550.8.2311.0Khalil Shakir, Buff.254.354.3.2011.0Jameson Williams, Det.273.050.2.4110.8Romeo Doubs, G.B.303.542.5.4110.2Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG314.838.8.1610.0Tyler Lockett, Sea.343.843.9.239.5Brandin Cooks, Dall.263.135.2.449.3Quentin Johnston, LAC293.038.5.349.0DeMario Douglas, N.E.264.040.0.128.9Darnell Mooney, Atl.313.145.4.198.8Josh Palmer, LAC253.146.6.158.6Michael Wilson, Ari.292.938.4.258.3Gabe Davis, Jac.272.436.5.358.2Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ten.252.333.9.418.2Darius Slayton, NYG332.740.7.218.1Elijah Moore, Cle.333.635.7.097.8Alec Pierce, Ind.332.140.5.277.8Rashod Bateman, Balt.332.334.0.307.6Dontayvion Wicks, G.B.252.428.3.367.4Curtis Samuel, Buff.303.128.9.207.4Tyler Boyd, Ten.333.232.0.066.8Kalif Raymond, Det.291.824.3.145.3Justin Watson, K.C.321.523.4.164.8Nelson Agholor, Balt.311.619.7.194.7Van Jefferson, Pitt.291.213.0.073.0

Maybe Buffalo will kick the tires on Keenan Allen (a former Palmer teammate). He shows up in the top 10 over the past two years.

With Palmer specifically, he was working with one of the game’s better quarterbacks for most of those two seasons. And last year, with Allen and Mike Williams gone, he had a top-2 role handed to him (but saw rookie Ladd McConkey and second-year wideout Quentin Johnston zoom by him, each finishing with far more targets, catches and yards, while also catching 7-8 touchdowns (Palmer caught 1).

I will not be taking a late flier on Palmer. In fact, I dropped him in my dynasty league. He will not be living up to his contract, and I’m not sure we can even say with any confidence he’ll be one of Buffalo’s three best wideouts. Only the modest resumes of the other candidates works in his favor.

–Andy Richardson

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